Systems and methods for atmospheric vapor extraction

Abstract

Systems and methods relating to a wearable atmospheric water generation device are described herein. Systems can comprise a sorbent material within a sorbent chamber configured to capture water vapor from ambient air and can be configured to produce a reduced pressure condition within the sorbent chamber, thereby desorbing water from the sorbent material. The systems can further comprise a condenser for producing liquid water from the desorbed water vapor.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A water generation device comprising:
 a sorbent chamber comprising a sorbent material to capture water vapor from ambient air during a load cycle, the sorbent material being configured to absorb thermal energy; 
 a vacuum pump configured to produce a reduced pressure condition within the sorbent chamber, thereby desorbing water from the sorbent material during a release cycle, wherein the reduced pressure condition increases a ratio of vapor pressure of water captured by the sorbent material to water vapor partial pressure in the sorbent chamber; and 
 a condenser for producing liquid water from the desorbed water vapor received from the vacuum pump; 
 wherein an outlet of the vacuum pump is configured to exchange heat from emitted water vapor therefrom to the sorbent chamber, thereby increasing at least one of a rate and a vapor pressure of water vapor desorbed from the sorbent material. 
 
     
     
       2. The water generation device of  claim 1 , wherein the sorbent material is configured to absorb thermal energy from:
 a wearer of the water generation device; 
 solar radiation impinging on the atmospheric water generation device; or a combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       3. The water generation device of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan configured to cool the condenser. 
     
     
       4. The water generation device of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum pump discharges:
 the desorbed water vapor as steam at atmospheric pressure; 
 desorbed water vapor to a higher pressure than atmospheric pressure; or, 
 the desorbed water vapor to a higher pressure than atmospheric pressure via a compressor in combination with the vacuum pump. 
 
     
     
       5. The water generation device of  claim 1 , further configured to operate in an open loop thermodynamic cycle. 
     
     
       6. The water generation device of  claim 1 , wherein the sorbent material comprises:
 an ionic liquid; 
 a solvent-less ionic liquid epoxy resin; 
 an ionic liquid entrained into a porous solid; 
 a metal-organic framework; or a combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       7. A water generation device comprising:
 a sorbent chamber comprising a sorbent material to capture water vapor from ambient air during a load cycle, the sorbent material being configured to absorb thermal energy; 
 a vacuum pump configured to produce a reduced pressure condition within the sorbent chamber, thereby desorbing water from the sorbent material during a release cycle, wherein the reduced pressure condition increases a ratio of vapor pressure of water captured by the sorbent material to water vapor partial pressure in the sorbent chamber; and 
 a condenser for producing liquid water from the desorbed water vapor received from the vacuum pump; 
 wherein the water generation device is configured to exchange:
 heat from the vacuum pump to the sorbent material; or, 
 heat from the condenser to the sorbent material such that a power requirement of the vacuum pump is reduced, thereby increasing a coefficient of performance. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The water generation device of  claim 1 , wherein the sorbent chamber comprises:
 an inlet for inputting a gas leak during the release cycle; or, 
 an inlet for inputting a carrier gas leak comprising ambient air during the release cycle. 
 
     
     
       9. The water generation device of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to:
 communicate with one or more sensors; 
 maximize a water production rate in the condenser by adjusting the reduced pressure condition during a release time; 
 maximize a water production rate of the condenser by maintaining the reduced pressure condition below a predetermined setpoint in the sorbent chamber; 
 maintains the reduced pressure condition below the predetermined setpoint in the sorbent chamber by adjusting power input to the vacuum pump; or, 
 adjust a flow rate of a gas leak to maintain the reduced pressure condition in the sorbent chamber. 
 
     
     
       10. A method for operating a water generation device comprising:
 capturing water vapor, by a sorbent material in a sorbent chamber, from ambient air during a load cycle; 
 forming a reduced pressure condition in the sorbent chamber during a release cycle; wherein forming the reduced pressure condition comprises:
 adjusting the reduced pressure condition by adjusting a vacuum pump rate; or, 
 adjusting the reduced pressure condition by adjusting a flow rate of a carrier gas into the sorbent chamber; 
 
 desorbing water from the sorbent material during the release cycle during the release cycle; and 
 condensing water vapor output from the sorbent chamber into liquid water during the release cycle. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the load cycle and the release cycle operate in an open loop thermodynamic cycle. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 inputting a gas leak into the sorbent chamber during the release cycle; or, 
 inputting ambient air into the sorbent chamber. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein desorbing water from the sorbent material during the release cycle comprises:
 exposing the sorbent material to a low grade heat source; 
 exposing the sorbent material to thermal energy from a wearer of the water generation device; 
 exposing the sorbent material to passive ambient heat; 
 exposing the sorbent material to solar energy; or, a combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       14. A method for operating a water generation device comprising:
 capturing water vapor, by a sorbent material in a sorbent chamber, from ambient air during a load cycle; 
 forming a reduced pressure condition in the sorbent chamber during a release cycle; 
 desorbing water from the sorbent material during the release cycle during the release cycle; 
 condensing water vapor output from the sorbent chamber into liquid water during the release cycle; 
 determining a wearer's body condition; and, 
 adjusting the reduced pressure condition based on the determined body condition. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the wearer's body condition comprises the wearer's body heat, temperature, metabolic rate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the method comprises determining the wearer's body condition has increased above a predetermined threshold; and, reducing an amount of energy input to form the reduced pressure condition based on the determined wearer's body condition. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the method comprises determining the wearer's body condition has decreased below a predetermined threshold; and reducing a pressure within the sorbent chamber based on the determined wearer's body condition. 
     
     
       18. A method for operating a water generation device comprising:
 capturing water vapor, by a sorbent material in a sorbent chamber, from ambient air during a load cycle; 
 determining an amount of water in the sorbent material; 
 determining a sorbent chamber pressure setpoint based on the determined amount of water; 
 forming a reduced pressure condition in the sorbent chamber during a release cycle; 
 desorbing water from the sorbent material during the release cycle during the release cycle; and, 
 condensing water vapor output from the sorbent chamber into liquid water during the release cycle. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising adjusting the reduced pressure condition by adjusting a vacuum pump rate; or, adjusting the reduced pressure condition by adjusting a flow rate of a carrier gas into the sorbent chamber. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , where the sorbent material comprises a porous desiccant, a silica gel, a metal-organic framework (MOF) or an ionic liquid.